We are thrilled to welcome you all in Ramallah. Despite the problematic political situation we have managed to prove that art is larger than borders and checkpoints…- from the opening remarks of Emile Saba, one of the young organizers of Ashtar Theatre's International Youth Festival

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A lovely celebration to start it off - an evening of singing and dancing - dimmed by reduced numbers because some groups did not receive permission from Israel to enter and one young participant, a UK resident who happened to be born in an Arab country, was kept at the airport for 10 hours, questioned, and finally told she did not pass security clearance. She is being sent back later today.

But in the evening, over platters of humus and mini pizzas, Noor sang beautiful folks songs while Uday, who is half-Indian, accompanied her on tabla, a young guy whose band was meant to play, came solo and sang Stairway to Heaven, Massad sang Sway, a girl from the Norwegian group sang a trembling trill of a song, and then all the kids - from Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Ramallah - all ran up to the mic and sang the Palestinian national anthem.